DMAA Staff

highly Qualified & Effective

Downtown Martial Arts Academy is a longtime member of the Starkville community. We teach a range of styles and offer classes to all skill levels and ages, along with private training and group lessons. Our qualified staff is trained in safe and effective teaching skills that maximize your potential. Email or call to arrange your introductory class today!

Doug Bedsaul

Doug holds a fifth degree black belt in Akayama Ryu Jujutsu, a fourth degree black belt in Taekwondo, and a third degree black belt in Judo. Doug is a certified personal fitness trainer, USJA certified coach, and the Chief Instructor for Downtown Martial Arts. He is an active competitor and coach, and advocates self defense training for all. Doug also works at Mississippi State University.

Stephanie Aultman

Stephanie is a third degree black belt in Taekwondo. She has been training since 2002 and now instructs the Junior Martial Arts classes.

Chris Stevens

Chris works as a draftsman with the Babcock & Wilcox Company. He is a third degree black belt in Akayama Ryu Jujutsu, a second degree black belt in Judo, and a first degree black belt in Taekwondo. Chris assists with the Judo and Jujutsu programs.

Todd Pharr

Todd is a professor of immunology in the College of Veterinary Medicine at Mississippi State University. He is a third degree black belt in Taekwondo, and has been training since 1996. Todd assists with the Taekwondo program.

John Cmar

John has a first degree black belt in Taekwondo, which he received from Hwang's Taekwondo Center in Los Angeles. He has been training in Olympic style Taekwondo since 2007. John works as a senior software engineer for GameFly. He teaches the Monday night Taekwondo class.

William Harris

William is a recent graduate of Starkville High School. Training since 2012, he is now a brown belt and assists with the Junior Martial Arts program.

Karl Grebner

A junior at Starkville High School, Karl has trained with us since 2010 and is now a sankyu in judo. Among other accomplishments, he is also an Eagle Scout. Karl assists with our Junior Martial Arts classes.

Cheryl Chambers

Cheryl is an instructor in the MSU Department of Communication. Training since 2009, she is a brown belt. Cheryl manages the office and leads our Grasshoppers program.

Abbi Crump

Abbi assists with the Grasshoppers program. She has been training since 2011, and is a brown belt. Abbi is successful in both taekwondo and judo competition.